Rite Aid Partners with Google Maps to Promote Safe Medication Disposal
July 15 2019 - 11:33AM
Business Wire
Over 550 Safe Medication Disposal Units Now
Listed on Google Maps
Rite Aid and The Rite Aid Foundation announced today that over
550 medication disposal units across the nation are now searchable
on Google Maps, making it even easier for people to safely dispose
of unneeded or unwanted medications.
“We are constantly looking for additional ways to help combat
prescription drug abuse and misuse, which is impacting communities
across the country,” said Bryan Everett, chief operating officer of
Rite Aid Corporation and president of The Rite Aid Foundation.
“Thanks to new technology, and partners like Google, finding a
safe, monitored place to dispose of unused or unwanted prescription
drugs is now as easy as opening an app on your phone or using
Google Maps on your laptop.”
To find a safe medication disposal unit in a Rite Aid store or a
KidCents Safe Medication Disposal Unit in a local police station or
law enforcement agency, users can simply search on Google
(including Google Maps on a browser or mobile device) for
“medication disposal near me.” Google will show results with the
closest Rite Aid medication disposal units for people to safely
dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs.
"Google is honored to partner with Rite Aid to make it easier
for Americans to safely dispose of unwanted medications, including
those that are fueling the tragic opioid epidemic," said Google
Senior Counsel Michael Trinh. "With just a single search on Google,
Americans can quickly find convenient medication disposal locations
at pharmacies and law-enforcement locations open year-round and do
their part to reduce the harmful health and environmental impacts
of unused or unwanted medications."
The partnership with Google is one of several initiatives
in-store and beyond that Rite Aid has implemented as part of its
comprehensive strategy to address prescription drug abuse and
misuse.
In 2017, The Rite Aid Foundation launched the KidCents Safe
Medication Disposal program. The program provides law enforcement
agencies in communities served by Rite Aid with free medication
disposal units for individuals to safely dispose of expired or
unwanted medications. Since launch, the program has expanded to 18
states. To date, the Foundation has partnered with more than 400
law enforcement agencies to make more than 450 units available to
customers and communities.
In 2018, Rite Aid announced plans to install 100 medication
disposal units in stores across the country. The 100th unit was
recently installed in Ottawa, Ohio.
In addition to medication disposal units, The Rite Aid
Foundation’s KidCents program has made a multi-year, commitment to
the Prescription Drug Safety program, an innovative digital
course about prescription drug abuse prevention.
Developed by EVERFI, the nation’s leading education technology
innovator, the course uses an evidence-based, public health
approach to empower high school students with the skills and
knowledge they need to make safe and healthy decisions about
prescription drugs and prevent abuse before it occurs.
As a result of The Rite Aid Foundation’s commitment, the
Prescription Drug Safety program will be made available to more
than 400 high schools in California, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington at no cost.
To complement the Foundation’s work, Rite Aid has several
in-store initiatives to help address the growing epidemic of
prescription drug abuse and misuse. Rite Aid was the first
drugstore chain to offer DisposeRx packets at all its pharmacies.
DisposeRx packets contain a biodegradable powder that, when mixed
with water in the prescription vial, dissolves drugs, forming a
viscous gel which may be safely discarded in the trash.
Beyond encouraging proper disposal of expired or unwanted
medications, Rite Aid pharmacists work closely with patients’
prescribers and collaborate on appropriate pain management therapy
decisions. All patients with new opioid prescriptions receive
required counseling on their prescriptions. In addition to
supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
guidelines for prescribing opioids, Rite Aid also participates in
prescription drug monitoring programs. Rite Aid also provides
ongoing education and training about prescription drug misuse and
abuse to its more than 5,000 pharmacists.
Rite Aid also has worked hard to increase access to the opioid
overdose reversal medication, naloxone, which is now available in
all Rite Aid pharmacies without a prescription.
About The Rite Aid Foundation
Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded
more than $63 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally,
Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners
and associates, has also raised more than $92 million for
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since
1994.
About the KidCents Program
Through the KidCents program, which is The Rite Aid Foundation’s
charitable giving program dedicated to improving the health and
wellbeing of children living in the communities Rite Aid services,
members of Rite Aid's loyalty program, wellness+ rewards,
can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest
dollar and donate their change to KidCents. Members can also choose
to direct their change to a specific KidCents charity by visiting
www.kidcents.com. For more information, visit www.kidcents.com.
About Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading
drugstore chains with fiscal 2019 annual revenues of $21.6 billion.
Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and
press releases, is available through the company's website at
www.riteaid.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190715005588/en/
MEDIA: Rite Aid Chris Savarese 717-975-5718
Christopher.Savarese@riteaid.com
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